Method for the treatment of animal furskins, animal hair fibers, and the like



e-lcr animal furskins and the like.

w s STA METHOD FORTHE TREATMENTIOF ANIMAL, J c 1 FURSKINS, ANIMAL mm; means, AND r Gus-Levy, NewYork, .N. Y;

No Drawing. Application "1 5 Claims.

Thisin vention relates toia method of treating More particularly, my invention relates to; a method of preconditioning by which I obtain a furskin simulating a genuine furskin of natural color and finish.

To those skilled in the furskin art, the fur which excels in quality is one which has a natural color, whose. hair is of fine texture and lustre, and whose leather is strong-soft and at the'same, time pliable. Such furskins are often rare and expensive, Heretoforacheaper grades of furskins were subjectedto certain processes in order that they might be used to-imitate the rarer and more expensive furskins. These processes, however, were expensive and difiicult. The furskins were subjected to all sorts of chemical treatment which involved much time and expense, in order to obtain what was considered the desired resultin the furskin. v I t Sometimes, due to such treatment, the leather was hard and brittle,-or,the hair was coarse, .or was singed, thus producing a furskin of undesir able quality. r v x I In many cases the mordants used in the chemical treatment thereof prior; tobleaching were inefficient and instead of improving the'fur pelt and hair fibers, often impaired them or retarded theproper action of the dyeing solution, in which case the fur pelt was practically of no value.

Also, the bleaching treatment was a long and severe-one. The furskins on being removed from the bleaching bath were in an exceedingly delicate condition, the pelt being very tender, and

the hair fibers loose. I care in handling the furskins at this stage. C'cnsequently after bleaching, the-furskins had to be subjected to a redressing treatment in order to restore the lost properties originally inherent therein I The process as generally used in the art also removed whatever mordanting chemicals had been absorbed by the hair fibers previous to bleaching. As a result, after bleaching andbefore dyeing, the furskins had to be remordanted in order to obtain what was generally considered the proper result; namely, a furskinwhose pelt is strong and at the same time-soft and pliable and whose hair fibers are strong, of brilliant lustre andfinetexture. M

It is anobject of the invention to provide an efficient method of treatinganimalfurskins and the like, avoiding the aforementioned defects and disadvantages. c m A Another object of my invention is to provide a -method of economically producing a highly desir- This necessitated unusual .July 20, 119212,.

able furskin of unimpaired strength, fine texture and proper lustre, simulating a natural furskin of thevcolor and finish characteristic of a-normally good furskinand desirable to the trade.

A further object of my invention isto provide a method of treating animalfurskins'and the like in which the hair fibers thereof contain, after a preliminary treatment, a mordant which will effectively accelerate a subsequent bleaching action, and which will effectively fix the dye if said furskins are then subjected to a dyeing treatment. This mordant will also effectively fix the dye if the -furskins are dyed without being subjected to a preliminary bleaching operation.

With the above objects and features in' 'view my invention in its essential form includes subjecting animal furskins and the like to the action of a solution which contains an alkali to cleanse and degrease the furskins and to open up the pores of the hair fibers, making them receptive to subsequent chemical. treatment. At the same time the furskins, aresubjected to the action of. are- ,dressing solutionto,toughenthepelt and hair fibers in order to protectthem from any injurious efiects ofthesubsequent treatmenta The next and important step, is treating with} a'f'm'o'rdant solution containing complex ions of a metal and ammonia, to, accelerate a subsequent'bleaching action and tofcausea fixationof the dye; if the furskins are to bedyed. The mordanted furskins ,are then rinsediin' water to eliminate any excess mordantsolution, after! which ableaching and then a stripping action is performed. They, may then be dyeoldtthe color desired requires it. For

certain result sihe bleaching and stripping actions may be"- avoided and-the furskins dyed directly after themordanting.

While I have given above a somewhat general idea of thesteps involved in my invention, I give the following method described in detail as an illustrative example'of carrying out my invention in the 7 preferred ;form.

:periodpf about two (2) hours at ordinary temperatures. In this preliminary treatment there is both" a killing and a redressing action.

The .killing action-of the alkali is' to'remove .any adhering greases, fats or oils and to openup and cleanout the pores of the hair fibers to'render these hair fibers more susceptible, to. subsequent treatment. .fI'he.redressing action of the t8ltii been offsets any harmful effects of the "killing solu-- tion. The formaldehyde also protects the pelt and the hair fibers against injurious effects of the bleaching agent in a step hereinafter described.

The furskins after treatment in the above step are now ready for a certain mordanting action,

which is considered. an important step linrthei present method. This action may also be considered for present purposes as a fixing. action in which the mordant or fixer reacts, apparent- 1y chemically, with "the hair fibers of the furskins, thus preparing them for the bleaching and dyeing solutions? This treatment consists in introducing the mordanting chemicalsinto the hair fibers- -I have found that the type of mordants which producethe best results'isof the chemical class of 'complexions containing a metal and ammonia, represented by the formula a I IZ QJ HQZQI where Mex represents a metal in any of its existing valences, (NI-I3) 2x represents a number of r moles of ammonia equal to twice the valence of the metaland represents the valence of the entire complex ion which is the same as the valence of the metal.

'The introduction of these complex metallic ammonia ions into thehair fibers is accomplished by subjecting the furskins to the action of a solution of a salt which consists of a positive radical "of a metal in complex combination with am- -monia, and a negative radical of any acid. Such 'a salt is ammonio-cupric sulphate Cu(NH3) 4SO4.

While I prefer to use the above mentioned salt it is to be understood that any other salt of the same type may be used. That is, a salt consisting of a 'positive radical containing the metals copper,-silver,'cobalt, cadmium, nickel or zinc in complexcombination with ammonia and a negative'i'radical of any acid; such as sulphate, nitrate,

chloride etc. The concentration of these {mordanting salts may vary from" 0.1% to 5%. The

furskins are subjected to this mordanting action at ordinarytemperatures'for a 'period of from 1 to 8 hours, depending on the'kind of furskins 'treated and the quality of the hair fibers, with their attendant adaptability to react with the mordanting solution. When the furskins have been subjected to this "mordanting action for the desired period "of time, they are rinsed'with water to eliminate any-excess'of solution on the outsideof the hairfibers. r For} certain resultsthe skins may now be dyed Without anyfurther preliminary treatment. --If lighter colors are'desired the furskins are now bleached by treatment with a solution containing from 0.5% to 5% of either hydrogen per- "oxide, sodium peroxide, perborates, persulphates andthe like, which willnot, per se, color the hair fibers, and 5 %1 sodium chloride, at ordinary temperatures, for a period of from A; to 2 hours, until the desired bleaching is obtained.

The furskins are now stripped with a solution containing about 1% of oxalic acid or any other acid and about 5% of sodium chloride at ordinary temperatures for a period of about one (1) hour, to remove a dark colored, curdy precipitate formed in the hair fibers during the bleaching action.

After this, the skins may be finished off in the ordinary manner, or they may be dyed and then finished off in the ordinary manner, depending on thecolor desired.

The use of sodium chloride in the bleaching andstripping actions while not absolutely necessary is preferable, as it prevents undue swelling .jof the pelt.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be noted that I have described a highly efficient and economical method for the treatment of furskins and the like. In this method I can lengthen orshorten the time required for setting afur skin in the desired=condition; I have also changed the physical and apparently the chemical constitution of the furskin pelt and hair fibers by means of a mordanting solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, whereby the bleaching action has been greatly accelerated and the dye made fast to the hair fibers. However, it is to be understood that the dyeing step is not an essential part of the process. If the color obtained by bleaching alone is satisfactory, the dyeing step may be avoided. It is also to be understood that in order to obtain certain color "effects the bleaching'and stripping actions may be avoided and the after mordanting.

: The fursk'ins treated" according to my invention, as herein described in its preferred form, have a fine texture, a smooth finish, are strong and at-the same time soft and pliable. The hair fibers after the chemical treatment hereinabove described are stronger and do not shed after use of the furskin. Also they retain the dye more tenaciously since there has been apparently a chemical reaction between the fixing ormordanting agents and said hair fibers.

- It is to be noted-that according to myinvention I am able to reduce appreciably the time consumed in'treating a furskin, and at the same time obtain a product which contains all the desirable features of a natural colored furskin. There is 'also'a considerable economy of cost in the production of a furskin according to myinvention,'since the solution of one or more morf dants may be" re-used or if they a'retobe discarded, the metal salts and the ammonia may be recovered therefrom. A furskin which ordinarily is of a dark or undesirable color or shade, or is of uneven color or shade can be treated according to m'yinvention without losing any of its desirable' inheren't characteristics, and at the same time the hair fibers and the pelt are improved in their quality, texture and appearance.

While I have described a preferred method of furskins dyed directly IJLLIBUIEIIVU UL UFLII'HU, L-

like, the. steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution of sodium carbonate and formaldehyde, then treating same with a solution containing complex metallic ammonia ions, bleaching and then stripping the bleached furskins.

2. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution of a basic substance and formaldehyde, then treating same with a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching and then stripping the bleached furskins.

3. In the method of treating furskins and the like the steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution containing an alkali and formaldehyde, then treating same with a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions of the type.

[MGANHQHT where Mex represents a metal in any of its existing valences, (NH3 2x represents a number of moles of ammonia equal to twice the valence of the metal, and y represents the valence of the entire complex metallic-ammonia ion which is the same as the valence of the metal; bleaching and then stripping the bleached furskins.

4. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution containing an alkali and formaldehyde, treating same with a solution containing ammonio-cupric sulphate Cu(NH3)4SO4, bleaching and then stripping the bleached furskins.

5. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution containing an alkali and formaldehyde, treating same with a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching with a solution containing hydrogen peroxide, then stripping the bleachedfurskins.

6. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including killing and redressing the furskins with a solution containing an alkaline substance and formaldehyde, treating the same with a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching the mordanted furskins with an oxidizing agent selected from the following group; persulphates, perborates, metallic.

peroxides; then stripping the bleached furskins.

7. In the method of treating furskins and the.

y iW TREATMENT & cannon M LWI I import OF TEXTILES & FIBERS,

a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching and then stripping the bleached furskins with a solution containing an acid.

9. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including killing the furskins with a solution containing an alkali, treating same with a solution containing complex metallic'ammonia ions, bleaching and then stripping, the bleached furskins.

10. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including redressing the furskins with a solution containing formaldehyde, treating same with a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching and finally stripping the bleached furskins.

11. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including subjecting the furskins to the action of a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, and then bleaching the same.

12. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the steps including subjecting the furskins to the action of a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, bleaching, and then stripping the bleached skins.

13. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the step which consists of mordanting the furskins or the like, preliminary to bleaching or dyeing, or both, by subjecting them to the action of a solution containing complex metallic-ammonia ions, of the type represented by the formula where Mex represents a metal in any of its existing valences, (NHa) 2x represents a number of moles of ammonia equal to twice the valence of the metal and represents the valence of the entire complex ion, which is the same as the valence of the metal.

14. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the step which consists of mordanting the furskins and the like, preliminary to bleaching or dyeing, or both, by subjecting them to the action of a solution containing ammonio-cupric sulphate Cu(NI-I3) 4804.

15. In the method of treating furskins and the like, the step which consists of mordanting the furskins and the like, preliminary to bleaching or dyeing or both, by subjecting them to the action of a solution containing a salt or salts whose positive radical ,consists of one of the following metals; copper, silver, cobalt, cadmium, nickel or zinc in complex combination with ammonia, and whose negative radical consists of an acid radical.

GUS LEVY. 

